Business Ethics: Cardinal IG - Case Study Example

Business Ethics: Cardinal IG Case Study Ethics is moral principles governing a person’s behavior, and it relates to branch of knowledge dealing with moral philosophy (Ciulla, 4). Business ethics involves the examination of the ethical principle and moral problems that arise in a business environment and the measures instituted to ensure this are dealt with accordingly. The needs for the ethical organizations have augmented and running of businesses in recent years owing to the different benefits accrued by firms with ethical business conduct (Kaptein, 24). One of the businesses that depict ethical business conduct in the course of its leadership, employee recruitment, and management process, and other aspects of the business is Cardinal IG. This study aims at analyzing ethical leadership, development of ethical culture, and other relation to ethical culture including organizations similar to Cardinal IG in ethical conduct, and empowerment of employees at Cardinal IG to act ethically and promote ethical culture. David Pinder’s embrace of ethical leadership to create an ethical culture at Cardinal IG Cardinal Insulated Glass (Cardinal IG) has clearly demonstrated the ability of leadership to use ethical measures to generate an institution governed by ethics and incorporation of ethical culture. There are different ways through which David Pinder has demonstrated the ability for leaders to change the culture of an organization to embrace ethical practices and principles. The other step is augmented access to managers, division supervisors, team leaders, and Pinder at all times by all the employees at Cardinal IG. Accessibility by the leaders encourages teamwork and cooperation allowing employees to be part of a disciplined team giving them the motivation to act ethically knowing that they are respected and honored to work at Cardinal IG. Pinder has made it clear for any leader the need to train each employee to be ready to take over the leader’s position at any time. Training the employees and preparing them for the leader’s job make them have confidence in their abilities and allows for a smooth transition when the time comes for them to handle the responsibilities allowing for ethical practice of each employee knowing that they will have leadership responsibilities at any point in time. Pinder has also created a synergistic balance between love and discipline at Cardinal IG with roles, expectations, and roles well set out for each employee allowing for self-regulation (Ferrel 567). Employees and leaders at Cardinal IG show love for each other through caring for each other. Love from the leaders allows each employee to have knowledge of care for them, their families, and their future creating an ethical culture. Pinder demonstrates love to all employees through remembering their names, those of family members of each employee, and their personal interests. Pinder has an open door policy and solves problems on the spot, hugs and shakes hands with members of his organization, mentors, and trains employees, and expects all leaders at the organization to act in the same manner. Steps taken by David Pinder to ensure an ethical culture Commitment to having leadership training for all the leaders to have the best leadership, communication, and interpersonal communication is one of the steps taken by Pinder to ensure ethical culture. This has ensures all the employees are treated fairly, with dignity they deserve, and fairness in all decisions ensuring ethical culture. Dismissal of an employee is less frequent at Cardinal employee, but the grounds for dismissal are well spelt out and all employees have the knowledge about it. Pinder has a zero tolerance for racist or sexist comments, stealing, fighting, alcohol and drugs within the organization as this may lead to termination ensuring every employee acts ethically at all times. Pinder has clearly defined ethical behavior among the employees that has to be followed ensuring all employees act ethically at all times regardless of their positions. Every employee is treated with respect and dignity and ensuring everyone is responsible for his/her behavior. Pinder acts a role model for the employees at the organization in his words and deeds aiding in promoting an ethical culture at Cardinal IG. Pinder also empowers each employee through meeting them personally; caring for them and their families, and aiding each member achieve personal growth and development. Comparison of Cardinal IG and two organizations The choice of the organizations to be included in this study were those organizations that have demonstrated ethical behavior over the years have been recognized globally, as has been the case with Cardinal IG. Starbucks and Salesforce.com are the two organizations chosen for comparison with Cardinal IG in their ethical culture and behavior. Similarities All the three organizations treat with respect and dignity and allow them to make decisions to the best of their judgment. Fair remuneration and compensation for the employees is the other ethical culture offered by all the three companies. The three corporations allow for diverse workers at their plants and places of operation, but Cardinal IG has the most diverse workers of the three companies. All the three corporations aim at operating in a clean environment and have a clear guideline on the responsibilities and roles of the employees. Differences Starbucks is quick to solve environmental problems as a form of ethical behavior, which is not the case in Cardinal IG that tries its best to avoid environmental pollution Starbucks and Salesforce.com allow employees to participate in charity work of their choosing that is not the case in Cardinal IG Salesforce.com donates millions of dollars in the form of education grants and technology which is not the case for Starbucks and Cardinal IG. Cardinal IG depicts a straightforward emphasis on love for the employees by the leadership that differing from salesforce.com and Starbucks. Cardinal IG employs from the members and relation to the employees as fronted by them but Starbucks and Salesforce.com offer competitive recruitment for prospective employees. Ethical behavior of employees shaped by ethical culture, principles, and values at Cardinal IG Treatment with dignity and respect by the leadership and management at Cardinal IG is an ethical culture at Cardinal IG that has shaped the ethical behavior of the employees. This is well represented in the principles, values, and behavior at Cardinal IG and lived daily by the management and leadership at the company with each person encouraged treating every person with dignity and respect. Clean and well-lit working environment showed the employees they were cared for and respected by the company. Definition of the values, principles, and behavior of the employees in the Cardinal IG leadership handbook stating the company values as loyalty, duty, respect, selfless-service, honor, integrity, and personal and moral courage” (Ferrel 565). This aids in guiding the employees in all their actions and aids in providing a framework for solving any in discrepancy in behavior making the employees willing to act ethically. These values are projected in the leadership and management at Cardinal IG giving the employees a guide and the need to emulate the management in living the values, principles, and behavior codes in day-to-day actions resulting in an ethical culture by all the employees at Cardinal IG. Inclusion of the needs of the employees in the mission that reads, “To make money, by thrilling our customers with our product and service, and by taking care of our people” (Ferrel 565) aids in incorporating ethical culture. Each employee is expected to work hard, have a good attitude, be a team player, and be willing to support the mission at Cardinal IG. This culture at Cardinal IG allows employees to develop a commitment to work having commitment and dedication to be the best whilst maintaining ethical conduct. The structure of leadership at Cardinal IG ensures the teamwork at top level and in the manufacturing divisions of the company ensuring each person works for the same purpose. This unity of purpose gives the employees a need to act ethically and responsibly at all times showing the other way the ethical culture at Cardinal IG contributed to the ethical manner employees perform their tasks and responsibilities. I belief the culture, principles, and values at Cardinal IG have been very influential in promoting an ethical culture through guiding the behavior, attendance to roles and responsibilities, and other ethical conduct practices. Empowerment of employees to practice responsible and accountable leadership Cardinal IG empowers employees to make decisions based on their own judgments showing that they are respected and adored by the management making them empowered to practice responsible and accountable. The leadership and management of Cardinal IG have total trust in the employees who are empowered to decide correctly basing on their skills and understanding when they are faced with a doubtful situation. This empowerment to make the decisions on their own gives the employees confidence in themselves, satisfaction in knowing they are trustworthy in the face of the management and leadership, and improves their commitment to act ethically at all times. Providing a safe working environment and ensuring this is abided by all, since this is stated at the priority in the values, principles, and behavior at Cardinal IG also empowers employees to be accountable and responsible. Training employees through developing and implementing top notch training programs for all employees also empower accountability and responsibility at Cardinal IG. Employees are empowered by the encouragement by the leadership to have fun and enjoy working at Cardinal IG. Employees are encouraged to have “fun working, training, and growing together”. This empowers employees to work as a team, feel comfortable at the workplace, and develop together in the organization ensuring they act ethically at all times to their fellow workers and the customers to the organization. Employees are part of the profit sharing plan, recognition for performance in terms of employee of the month and year, and development of synergy through diversity. Being part of a disciplined team empowers the employees to perform at their best and the fact that the management and leadership at Cardinal IG hold each employee accountable for their behavior and performance as members of the team. This gives the employees the motivation to be the best and result in all employees acting ethically at Cardinal IG. Opinion on the company Cardinal IG excels in accomplishing its mission and performs well financially being the best performing among the other plants in the organization, high retention rates, and cleaning plant. The other areas of excellence exhibited at Cardinal IG are the diverse workforce with shared values and a strong culture. It is evident that Cardinal IG exemplifies excellent ethical leadership, nurtured employees depicting ethical behavior, and alignment of all facets f the organization to fulfill its mission. Works Cited Ferrell, O C. Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making and Cases. Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning, 2014. Print. Kaptein, Muel. Ethics Management: Auditing and Developing the Ethical Content of Organizations. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1998. Print. Ciulla, Joanne B. Ethics, the Heart of Leadership. Westport, Conn: Quorum Books, 1998. Print. Read More